Expandable Belt Loop

ABSTRACT

An expandable belt loop that is preformed, flexible and resilient is joined to a base member that can be used as part of a belt mounting system for holsters for firearms, flashlights, batons, or other functional items. The belt loop has an internal barb that is engageable with a back side surface of a belt and with the base is slidable on a service belt to a desired position where the bias of the loop towards constriction and frictional binding together with the barb, fix it in place on the belt. The expandable belt loop has three different regions that snugly accommodate each of the three most common widths for service belts, as well as, belts intermediate in size, while its base member can be formed in different shapes for the purpose of attaching differing item carriers or holsters, as well as being formed integral with an item carrier holster.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims an invention that was disclosed in part inUnited States Design Patent Application 29/408,332, filed Dec. 9, 2011,now Design Pat. No. D667,216, issued Sep. 18, 2012, entitled “ExpandableHolster and Expandable Belt Loop”.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an expandable belt loop thataccommodates various belt widths. More specifically, the inventionpertains to an expandable belt loop as previously described that isselectively slidable on a belt, includes means for holding the loop in afixed position on the belt, and is otherwise well adapted to serve aspart of a tactical belt mounting system for use by military, lawenforcement and other first responders to belt mount items such asholsters for firearms, flashlights, batons, or other functional items.

2. Relevant Art

Belt mounting systems, including those particularly adapted for use bymilitary and law enforcement personnel, have a storied history.Representative and/or exemplary patents in this field include:

(1) U.S. Pat. No. 1,495,925 for a “Belt Loop” issued May 27, 1924, to V.E. Quertermous.

(2) U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,303 for a “Belt Loop Stay” issued Apr. 11, 1989,to Mark J. Udelhofen.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,781 for a “Belt or Waistband Mountable Support forArticle Carrier” issued Nov. 30, 1993, to Richard E. D. Nichols.

(4) U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,878 for a “Baton Carrier” issued May 10, 2005,to Kevin L. Parsons.

However, none of these systems and inventions provides or rendersobvious the features taught and embodied in the instant invention. U.S.Pat. No. 1,495,925 (“Quertermous”) teaches a metal loop that is slidableon a belt and adapted to receive the loose end of the belt and hold itin close to the belt as well as to function as an article holder. Ituses a metal spring to tightly grip a belt inserted therethrough, butmakes no provision for (and makes no mention of the need to) accommodatevarious widths of belts. U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,303 (“Udelhofen”) teaches abelt loop stay that can be fabricated from a thermoplastic materialhaving spring characteristics, is slidable on a belt, and is adapted toreceive the loose end of the belt and hold it in close to the belt. Ithas a “bowed” side that presses against the belt parts named so as topress and hold them together, and is claimed to accommodate belts ofdifferent thicknesses, but makes no provision for (and makes no mentionof the need to) accommodate various widths of belts U.S. Pat. No.5,265,781 (“Nichols”) teaches a mounting device for suspending a holsteror other article carrier from a wearer's waistband or belt and uses tabs(referred to as “prongs 32” in the specification) to engage theunderside of the wearer's belt or waistband to prevent the device frombeing inadvertently pulled out on drawing a handgun therefrom. However,it does not teach or render obvious the protuberance or barb of theinstant invention in terms of their design, location or function orotherwise render obvious its features and teachings. Finally, U.S. Pat.No. 6,889,878 (“Parsons”) teaches a belt loop that is slidable on a belt(as in the examples previously cited) and makes some provision for beltsof different widths by including inserts that can be used to reduce thesize of the loop opening as needed to more snugly embrace and fitsmaller width belts, but does not teach or render obvious the apparatusused in the instant invention for this purpose or otherwise renderobvious its features and teachings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention there is provided an expandablebelt loop that accommodates various belt widths (as well as some beltthicknesses). As described and shown, the expandable belt loop is joinedto a base member that can be used as part of a belt mounting system foritems such as holsters for firearms, flashlights, batons, or otherfunctional items. Thus, the belt loop and base combination of theinvention are intended to be slidable on a service belt (whether made ofleather, webbing, or some other material) to a desired position despitethe belt loop's bias towards constriction and frictional binding to thebelt, and then due to closure or constriction of the loop (or someportion thereof) on the belt so as to bind and hold the loop in fixedposition in relation to the belt, to also hold any accompanying mounteditems in their desired position on the belt. In another aspect of theinvention, the expandable belt loop of the invention is intended toaccommodate the three most common widths of such service belts, as wellas to accommodate some intermediate thicknesses and widths. In a stillfurther aspect of the invention, the expandable belt loop systemdescribed is intended and designed to inhibit “rocking” motions withregard to the belt, such that the loop and any objects mounted thereonare firmly held in position and unable to rotate around an axistransverse to the surface of the belt. Finally, it is another object ofthe instant invention to provide a base member that can be formed indifferent shapes for the purpose of attaching differing item carriers orholsters, as well as being formed itself in the shape of an itemcarrier/holster.

The foregoing objects are accomplished by the provision of an expandablebelt loop/system comprising a flexible loop joined to a somewhat planarbase member with the expandable belt loop including some or all of thefollowing features. First, the flexible loop is preferably formed andmolded as an integral part of and/or extension of the base member, whichcompletes and/or forms one side of the loop. Second, the belt loop isformed with and biased towards closure at a pinch point where a raisedprotuberance or barb is forced towards the base member so as to firmlygrip a backside surface of a belt between the loop and base. Third, theexpandable belt loop of the invention is formed with three definedregions, each of which is capable of snugly accommodating a belt of aspecific size and binding the loop in position vis-à-vis the belt so asto prevent both sliding of the belt loop relative to the belt androcking/canting of the belt loop relative to the belt.

The first region specified is formed and lies between the upper interiorsurface/end of the expandable loop and a transverse shelf/surface of theprotuberance or barb, with the previously mentioned bias towards closureserving to bind the belt and prevent sliding, while the elongatejuncture of the upper interior surface abutting the top of the belt (andthe elongate juncture of the edge of the prong and the lower edge of thebelt) serve not only to help bind the belt in position, but preventcanting/rocking of the expandable loop relative to a belt fitted to thefirst region. The second region specified is formed and lies between theupper interior end of the expandable loop and an intermediate end/ledgein and of the loop structure lying adjacent to the base, with thepreviously mentioned bias towards closure serving to force theprotuberance or barb against the belt and prevent sliding, while theelongate juncture of the upper interior end and the top of the belt (andthe elongate juncture of the intermediate end/ledge and the lower edgeof the belt) serve not only to help bind the belt in position, but toprevent canting/rocking of the expandable loop relative to a beltfitting the second region. The third region specified is formed and liesbetween the upper interior end and a lower end spaced away from thebase, so as to force curvature transverse to the width of a belt housedin this region so as to further increase binding pressure on the belt,while the elongate juncture of the upper interior end and the top of thebelt (and the elongate juncture of the lower end and the lower edge ofthe belt) serve not only to further bind the belt in position, but toprevent canting rocking of the expandable loop relative to a beltfitting the third region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further object and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of are expandable belt loop in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 1B is a schematic side elevational view of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a front elevational view FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a side elevational view FIG. 1A, in combination with, andhaving, a belt of a first width inserted therethrough;

FIG. 2B is a front elevational view and belt combination illustrated inFIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a side elevational view of FIG. 1A in combination with, andhaving, a belt of a second width inserted therethrough;

FIG. 3B is a front elevational view and belt combination illustrated inFIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a front elevational view of an expandable belt loop incombination with, and having, a belt of a third width insertedtherethrough;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view and belt combination of FIG. 4A takenalong line; B-B thereof;

FIG. 4C is a first perspective view of the expandable belt loop and beltcombination of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4D is another perspective view of the expandable belt loop and beltcombination illustrated in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a side elevational view of an expandable belt loop incombination with, and having, a substantially triangular base adaptedfor mounting a firearm holster;

FIG. 5B is a front elevational view of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a perspective view of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5D is another perspective view of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a side elevational view of the present invention in which twoexpandable belt loops are provided for a single base, with said loopshaving both single and multiple protuberance or barbs;

FIG. 6B is a schematic front elevational view of the expandable beltloops and base illustrated in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C is a perspective view of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a front elevational view of the present invention wherein thebase includes or incorporates an expandable holster, with the holsterbeing particularly adapted to hold firearm magazines; and

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of FIG. 7A.

DESCRIPTION

With respect now to the drawings, FIGS. 1A through 1C illustrate thebasic component parts of the invention and otherwise provide anintroduction to its features. As will be noted from these drawingfigures, the invention is generally comprised of two basic parts: aflexible and resilient preformed loop 1 and a base member 2 which isalso flexible and resilient when integrally molded together. Theflexible loop 1 is adapted to serve as a belt loop connecting the basemember 2 (in the anticipated field of the invention) to atactical/service belt of the type utilized by military, police, fireand/or other emergency or first responder personnel. The base member 2illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 1C may be considered to represent ageneric mount for the varieties of equipment and items used in the fieldby the anticipated users of the invention (as previously outlined).Particular and specific examples, illustrating alternate embodiments andapplications/forms for the base member 2, are illustrated in FIGS.5A-7B; however, these are not to be considered as limiting, but merelyillustrative and exemplary.

As will also be noted, the flexible loop 1 is, in the preferredembodiments illustrated, and formed as an integral part of and/orextension of the base member 2, which completes and/or forms one side ofthe loop 1. The belt loop 1 and base member 2 combination canadvantageously be molded/formed from various thermoplastic materialssuitable for and/or known in the art; however, it is preferably andadvantageously formed from a thermoplastic polyester elastomer such asDuPont Hytrel®, and specifically Hytrel® 5526, which is a medium modulusHytrel® grade with nominal durometer hardness of 55D, and is speciallyrecommended for injection molding applications requiring high flowproperties.

Given the generic nature of the mount illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 1C(as well as FIGS. 2A through 4D), the primary point of interest in thesedrawings is the unique expandable belt loop 1 of the invention. Thefeatures of belt loop 1 can best be understood by reviewing FIGS. 1Athrough 4D in sequence. As will first be noted in these figures, beltloop 1 is formed with and biased towards closure of a pinch point 1Awhere raised protuberance or barb 1B is forced against base member 2. Inits closed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 1C, the beltloop 1 creates and defines a first region 4A with a maximum width “W1”equal to the distance between the upper interior end surface 1C and thetransverse end surface of the protuberance or barb 1B. As such, it isadapted to contain a belt having width W1. This belt can have a maximumthickness “T1” defined by the inner diameter/thickness T1 of the loop 1at upper end surface 1C as measured along a normal from base 2. However,even where it has a thickness approximately equal to the thickness “T2”as defined by the inner diameter/thickness T2 at pinch point 1A, it willbe snugly held by frictional pressure due to the bias towards closure ofpinch point 1A. Thus, the first region 4A of belt loop 1 (lying betweenupper end surface 1C of first region 4A and the transverse/shelfedge/surface 1B1 of prong 1B) is well adapted to snugly hold a belthaving a width of W1 and a thickness varying between T1 (the normalthickness of a service belt) all the way down to T2. Typically, if themount is design to accommodate belt widths from 1″ to 2½″, theprotuberance or barb 1B would contact belt widths above 1½″. Forexample, if the mount was designed to accommodate belt widths up to 4″,contact of the protuberance or barb would occur above 2½″. As tothickness of the belts, these may typically vary from about ⅛′-⅜′.

Turning to FIGS. 2A through 3B, it will be seen that the expandable beltloop 1 of the invention is also quite capable of snugly holding beltshaving dimensions greater than those accommodated by the first region4A. In fact, it can accommodate belts having dimensions all the way upto those of belt 3B (i.e., ranging from width W1 to width W2, andthickness T1 to T2) in a second region 4B lying between and defined byupper end interior surface 1C and a transverse shelf/surface 1D locatedwhere loop 1 joins base 2 intermediate the upper end interior surface 1Cand the lower end interior surface 1E. Ideally, a belt exceeding thesize of region 4A will be of the larger size illustrated in FIG. 3A forbelt 3B, having a width W2 such that it is snugly held between its upperedge adjacent to and abutting upper end 1C and at is lower edge abuttingand adjacent to ledge/surface 1D. However, as previously noted, region4B can also accommodate belts of size intermediate that of belts 3A and3C, such as the belt 3A shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In both cases, thepressure of protuberance or barb 1B bearing against the belt 3A or 3Bwill force it against base 2 and serve to steady the expandable beltloop 1, base 2 and any accompanying mounted apparatus in positionvis-à-vis a belt engaged thereby. (As will also be noted in regard toFIGS. 1A-1C (as well as the other drawing figures), the surfaces/ledgeswhere the invention abuts upper and lower edges of a belt insertedthrough belt loop 1 are elongate and serve to prevent rocking or cantingof the expandable belt loop 1 and base 2 it relation to a belt insertedtherethrough.

Finally, in terms of belt sizes, it can be seen from FIGS. 4A through4D, that the expandable belt loop 1 of the invention is also capable ofsnugly holding belts having a width greater than that of belt 3B up tothat of belt 3C (having dimensions W3 and thickness T1) in a thirdregion 4C lying between and defined by upper end 1C and lower end 1E.Here, as before, the pressure of prong 1B bearing against the belt 3Cwill force it against base 2 and serve to steady it in position.However, there are two differences in this case. First, the curvature ofthe belt 3C itself made necessary by the positioning of lower end 1Eaway from base 2 creates an extra source of binding pressure on belt 3Cto prevent it from moving, forcing it against protuberance or barb 1B.Second, rather than the curved and tapered edge of protuberance or barb1B, it is primarily the longer length of the somewhat curved ramp edge1B2 of protuberance or barb 1B that lies adjacent to, presses against,digs into the back side surface, and assists in binding belt 3C inposition which has been selected by the user. This effect is greatlyenhanced by the belt 3C being properly tightened around the waist of auser as illustrated in FIGS. 4C and 4D.

FIGS. 5A through 7B provide examples illustrating alternate embodimentsand applications/forms for the base member 2. Thus, FIGS. 5A-5Billustrate views of an expandable belt loop 1 in combination with, andhaving, a substantially triangular base 2A adapted for mounting afirearm holster. FIGS. 6A-6B provide views of an embodiment wherein twoexpandable belt loops 1 are provided for a single elongated base 2B,with said loops 1 having both single and multiple protuberance or barb1B. Finally, FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate views of an embodiment wherein thebase 2 includes or incorporates an expandable holster 2C, with saidholster 2C being particularly adapted to hold firearm magazine which areshown in U.S. Design Pat. No. D-667,216. It is noted that the base 2 maybe affixed to the holster in other ways, as by stitching, by t-nuts, byrivets, or other ways well known in the art.

In view of the foregoing, it should be clear that numerous changes andvariations can be made without exceeding the scope of the inventiveconcept outlined. Accordingly, it is to be understood that theembodiment(s) of the invention herein described is/are merelyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiment(s) is notintended to limit the scope of the claims, which recite those featuresregarded as essential to the invention.

PARTS AND FEATURES ILLUSTRATED IN DRAWING FIGURES

-   1 Expandable Belt Loop-   1A Pinch Point-   1B Protuberance or Barb-   1B1 Transverse End Surface of Prong-   1B2 Curved Ramp Edge of Prong-   1C Upper Interior End Surface of Loop-   1D Transverse Shelf Surface Where Loop Joins Base-   1E Lower Interior End Surface of Loop-   2 Base for Expandable Belt Loop-   2A Triangular Base for Mounting Firearm Holster-   2B Elongated Base Bearing Two Expandable Loops-   2C Base Formed as Expandable Holster for Clips-   3A Belt with Width W1 and Thickness T1-   3B Belt with Width W2 and Thickness T1-   3C Belt with Width W3 and Thickness T1-   4A First Region of Expandable Belt Loop Interior-   4B Second Region of Expandable Belt Loop Interior-   4C Third Region of Expandable Belt Loop Interior

I claim:
 1. An expandable belt loop, comprising: a flexible andresilient belt loop biased towards closure at a pinch point where oneside of said loop is biased towards the other side of said loop so as tofirmly grip an inside surface of a belt when inserted between said twosides; a raised barb on one side of said loop at said pinch point,thereby defining a barb side of said loop with the other side of saidloop being a non-barb side of said loop; and wherein the expandable beltloop is formed with multiple regions, each of which is sized to snuglyaccommodate a belt of a specific width between an upper member and alower member.
 2. The expandable belt loop of claim 1, wherein all ofsaid multiple regions share the same upper member, formed by an upperinterior surface of said belt loop.
 3. The expandable belt loop of claim2, wherein a first said region has a lower member formed by a transverseshelf surface of the barb.
 4. The expandable belt loop of claim 2,wherein a second said region of greater width than a first said regionhas a lower member formed by a transverse shelf surface located on thenon-barb side of said loop.
 5. The expandable belt loop of claim 2,wherein a third said region of greater width than a first and secondsaid region has a lower member formed by a lower interior surface ofsaid belt loop.
 6. The expandable belt loop of claim 1, furthercomprising a base member forming a side of said loop, wherein said basemember is: adapted for connection of an equipment holster and shaped asan equipment holster.
 7. An expandable belt loop comprising: a flexibleand resilient belt loop biased towards closure at a pinch point whereone side of said loop is biased towards the opposite side of said loopso as to firmly grip an inside surface of a belt when inserted betweensaid two sides and said opposite side includes a base member; a raisedbarb on the side of said loop opposite said base member at said pinchpoint, thereby defining a barb side of said loop; wherein the expandablebelt loop is formed with multiple regions, each of which is sized tosnugly accommodate a belt of a specific width between an upper memberand a lower member; and wherein all of said multiple regions share thesame upper member, formed by an upper interior surface of said belt loopadjacent said base member.
 8. The expandable belt loop of claim 7,wherein a first said region has a lower member formed by a transverseshelf surface of the barb.
 9. The expandable belt loop of claim 8,wherein a second said region of greater width than the first said regionhas a lower member formed by a transverse shelf surface located wherethe loop joins the base member.
 10. The expandable belt loop of claim 9,wherein a third said region of greater width than the first and secondsaid regions has a lower edge member formed by a lower interior surfaceof said belt loop, which lower interior surface is spaced away from saidbase member.
 11. The expandable belt loop of claim 8, wherein a beltinserted and fitting snugly within the first said region is firmlypressed by a portion of the loop opposite the base member and adjacentthe barb due to the bias of the loop towards closure.
 12. The expandablebelt loop of claim 9, wherein a belt inserted and fitting snugly withinthe second said region is firmly pressed by the barb due to the bias ofthe loop towards closure.
 13. The expandable belt loop of claim 10,wherein a belt inserted and fitting snugly within the third said regionis firmly pressed by the barb due to the bias of the loop towardsclosure.
 14. The expandable belt loop of claim 10, wherein a beltinserted and fitting snugly within the third said region is firmlypressed and maintained in position by curvature of the belt transverseto its width caused by spacing the lower interior surface away from thebase member, forcing the belt more strongly against the barb.
 15. Anexpandable belt loop, comprising: a flexible and resilient belt loopbiased towards closure at a pinch point where one side of said loop isbiased towards the opposite side of said loop so as to firmly grip abelt when inserted between said two sides and said opposite sideincludes an inside surface of a base member; a raised barb on the sideof said loop opposite said base member at said pinch point, therebydefining a barb side of said loop; wherein the expandable belt loop isformed with multiple regions, each of which is sized to snuglyaccommodate a belt of a specific width between an upper member and alower member; wherein all of said multiple regions share the same uppermember, formed by an upper interior surface of said belt loop adjacentsaid base member; wherein a first said region has a lower member formedby a transverse shelf surface of the barb; wherein a second said regionof greater width than the first said region has a lower member formed bya transverse shelf surface located where the loop joins the base member;and wherein a third said region of greater width than the first andsecond said regions has a lower edge member formed by a lower interiorsurface of said belt loop, which lower interior surface is spaced awayfrom said base member.
 16. The expandable belt loop of claim 8, whereinat least one of: a belt inserted and fitting snugly within the firstsaid region is firmly pressed by a portion of the loop opposite the basemember and adjacent the barb due to the bias of the loop towardsclosure, a belt inserted and fitting snugly within the second saidregion is firmly pressed by the barb due to the bias of the loop towardsclosure, a belt inserted and fitting snugly within the third said regionis firmly pressed by the barb due to the bias of the loop towardsclosure, and a belt inserted and fitting snugly within the third saidregion is firmly pressed and maintained in position by curvature of thebelt transverse to its width caused by spacing the lower interiorsurface away from the base member, forcing the belt more stronglyagainst the barb.
 17. The expandable belt loop of claim 7, wherein saidbase member is adapted for connection to an equipment holster and shapedas an equipment holster.
 18. The expandable belt loop of claim 14,wherein said base member is adapted for connection to an equipmentholster and shaped as an equipment holster.
 19. The expandable belt loopof claim 15, wherein said base member is adapted for connection to anequipment holster and shaped as an equipment holster.
 20. The expandablebelt loop of claim 10, wherein at least one of: a belt inserted andfitting snugly within the first said region is firmly pressed by aportion of the loop opposite the base member and adjacent the barb dueto the bias of the loop towards closure, a belt inserted and fittingsnugly within the second said region is firmly pressed by the barb dueto the bias of the loop towards closure, a belt inserted and fittingsnugly within the third said region is firmly pressed by the barb due tothe bias of the loop towards closure, and a belt inserted and fittingsnugly within the third said region is firmly pressed and maintained inposition by curvature of the belt transverse to its width caused byspacing the lower interior surface away from the base member, forcingthe belt more strongly against the barb.